THE DIARY OF AMOS LEE: I’M TWELVE, I’M TOUGH, I TWEET
Author: Adeline Foo
Set in Singapore, The Diary of Amos Lee mainly targets 9-14 year olds; however, Adeline Foo’s narration is a light read for older teens too. I’m Twelve, I’m Tough, I Tweet is the third part in the series. A children’s-fiction writer, Adeline envisioned Amos when her publisher came up with the ingenious idea of a toilet diary. Amos, the quintessential preteen kid, faces popularity concerns, hormonal breakouts and competition from his arch enemy as well as his best friend for the Tween Idol contest, with the backdrop of an active blogger mother, an irritating younger sister and a little brother whom Amos has to babysit. Amidst all this chaos, Amos is chosen to write for the school magazine, Poop Fiction. Once you begin reading, the initial revulsion about poop culminates into a hilarious read as Amos talks about invention of toilets, toilet paper history and farts. Amos’ tweets are quirky and identifiable. We say, let’s follow him!-Rs.195
EM AND THE BIG HOOM
Author: Jerry Pinto
Jerry Pinto’s impressive debut novel is the story of a two-parent-two-kid Goan Catholic family told in the words of the son, Roger Mendes. Em of the title is his mentally ill mother, the Big Hoom is his father, and his sister is Susan. He seeks to relate the story of his parents, so he must rely on his parents’ memories and the information they are willing to share with him. For much of the novel, the three Mendeses are patient and tolerant as their mother subjects them to the most horrific tribulations. We learn of Roger’s ambivalence towards his mother right at the start as he delves into this love-hate relationship. And he shows how this extends, in varying hues, to the entire family. Like most good novels, Pinto examines some of humanity’s great concerns. He is especially interested in the nature of love, both romantic and familial. Em and the Big Hoom is a marvellous debut, sensitive, livened by crystal-cut prose and Pinto’s trademark mordant humour. This is the best Indian novel in years.-Rs. 495
Volume 1 Issue 12
